Moygownagh

Daria, abbess of a monastery on the Owenmore river, so her lands became known as "the plain of the milch cows" or "Magh Gamhnach". Moygownagh (Gaelic - Magh Gamhnach) is a rural village and parish in North Mayo. Situated between the towns of Ballycastle and Crossmolina, it has a population of 585. The parish derives its name from an ancient 7th century legend where a wandering St. Daria, the abbess of a monastery along the banks of the Owenmore river. She treated him so hospitably that he blessed her and her lands so that they would abound in milch cows (fertile cows with milk) thereafter the area became known as "the plain of the milch cows" or "Magh Gamhnach". Visit our official webpage at https://www.Moygownagh.ie

For the public it contains two nationally recognised walking trails:

Blanemore Forest Walk:
Six thousand years of history lie in this conifer woodland, set on a gravel ridge above the wild and ancient bog-lands of North Mayo. Explore the sacred tombs and field walls of our first farmers. Walk among the mysterious standing stones of the bronze age and sit with the brooding dark beauty of Lough Naweela. This is a unique walk through Blanemore Forest. www.BlanemoreForest.com

Moygownagh Loop Walk:
This walk follows quiet boreens, country roads, some with grass in the centre, gravel bog road and forest track in an area of rich cultural significance including ancient rignforts, the remains of court tombs and pre-bog stone walls through a diverse landscape of rolling fields, cattle and sheep rearing land, dispersed family-farm settlements, coniferous forest, deciduous woods, flat bogland and an impressive walled garden in the grounds of an eighteenth centry Anglo-Irish country estate with impressive views of the Nephin Mountain Range. https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/moygownagh-loop-walk

It is also the home of the Moygownagh Ramblers who regularly meeting up at their Rambling House, to share stories and craic, enjoy music and art, get involved in heritage workshops and undertake visits to cultural centres. Pauline Mahon keeps a regular blog of their activities https://moygownagh.ie/moygownagh-ramblers